Morning Bell: The Big Labor Threat to Economic Recovery

Today Big Labor’s allies in the House and Senate will introduce legislation with the Orwellian title “The Employee Free Choice Act.” Contrary to the bill’s title, the legislation will strip employees of their choice in joining union, and it will lead to a lot less employees throughout the economy. President Barack Obama is strongly committed to the legislation however, telling the Washington Post earlier this year: “You know, now if the business community’s argument against the Employee Free Choice Act is simply that it will make it easier for people to join unions and we think that is damaging to the economy then they probably won’t get too far with me.” However, its more than just the business community that believes the EFCA will do serious damage to our nation’s economy.

Card Check Kills Choice: EFCA is more commonly known as card check due to the way the legislation fundamentally changes the basic rules of union organizing. Under card check, once union organizers submit cards with signatures from 50% plus one of the employees, the National Labor Relations Board must certify the union without an election. Big Labor claims this method gives workers a choice in how to organize between publicly signed cards or secret ballot elections. That is a lie. Nothing in the legislation gives workers any control over what organizing methods are used. Union organizers get to choose whether to pursue an open and honest election or a stealth and intimidation card check plan. The actual workers would have no choice and 49% of them could walk in to work one day and find they had been forced to join a union without ever having an opportunity to object. This is why big name liberals committed to real democratic values, like 1972 Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern and Obama supporter Warren Buffet, oppose card check.

Card Check Kills Jobs: Unions exist to secure higher wages for their members. They accomplish this feat by using the government’s coercive power to restrict the pool of people an employer can hire to just their members. By artificially creating labor scarcity, they drive up wages for union members. In this sense, unions operate as monopoly cartels in exactly the same way that OPEC countries like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela do to drive up the price of oil. Just as economic theory predicts that less oil will be consumed when oil cartels raise prices, economic theory also predicts that fewer people will be employed when more unions form. And economic studies firmly back up economic theory on this point. Study after study consistently shows that greater unionization leads to fewer jobs. Conservative estimates of card check’s employment effects show the legislation would eliminate 765,000 jobs over the next seven years. A more recent study pegged card check’s job killing total at 1.2 million jobs over two years.

Card Check Kills Innovation: The economic damage from unionization is not felt in short term employment loss alone. There is also the innovation killing work rules embodied in the thousand page contracts between union bosses and employers. Card check only makes this situation worse by adding government bureaucrats to the workplace. Section 3 of EFCA allows unions to demand government imposed arbitration after just 90 days of collective bargaining impasse. The government bureaucrat arbitrator would then be empowered to dictate: wages and bonuses; employment levels; retirement and health care plans; changes in business operations; promotion procedures; work assignments; subcontracting policies; and closing, sale, or merger of business. Card check would empower government bureaucrats, who have no practical experience in the company, its operations, or its business strategy, to dictate how a company was run. And unlike employees and employers, these arbitrators would not be affected by the consequences of their decisions.

Trying to smooth over the strong opposition to card check, President Obama said: “If their arguments are we think there are more elegant ways of doing this or here are some modifications or tweaks to the general concept that we would like to see.” There is no tweaking this concept. There is nothing elegant about Big Labor’s destruction of our economy. Our nation simply can not afford card check and workers don’t deserve it.

Join The Discussion

Card Check is just an underhanded way for Unions to get their way. As a union member, I am against Card Check 100%. If the incoming Union cannot get an agreement from the workforce, tough! There are many people that do not want to be a member of a Union. I am in one of those situations where you are forced to pay the dues, member or not. Card Check does nothing but make workers more skeptical of the real purpose of a Union.

This has nothing to do with benefiting the “worker.” All this is about is control by the government and empowerment of the unions. This will drive industries to other countries and generate the exact opposite of its intent.

We all know the purpose of the union, they are all part of the MOB, I used to belong to a union and when I asked leading questions I was labeled a malcontent simply because I wanted answers. Certain brothers, and I use the term loosely, began to ignore me. After the second strike we had I crossed the picket line along with others but to no avail the owner eventually closed the doors, he had enough.

Haven't we seen what Unions have done to their employees in the past. Held a gun to the heads of the auto industry for example in the form of strikes, demands of higher pay, benefits, etc??

In my opinion the very thought of more UNIONS in this country could very well drive more manufacturers out of this country (not that we have many in the first place)!!!

Isn't it the Unions that have basically bankrupted our Auto Industry? Isn't it Unions that have driven many other manufacturers overseas for cheaper labor.

How many more jobs do we need to lose, how many more companies do we need to drive away from this country.

Instead can't we create incentives for manufacturers to come back to the US???

This is one issue that has plagued the US for quite a few years now. Large companies moving their operations to Canada, India, and South America for cheaper labor. Same as the Oil production in this country ALL OVERSEAS!! And we want to stop drilling. When is Washington gonna wake up. They don't care because the White House is partying it up on our dollars every Wednesday night with $100 steaks, as well as entertainment. Its all a big party of control, spending, cramming their agenda down the American citizens throats. We can yell and scream all we want but they will do what they want to and in 4 yrs they will still be blaming it on the Bush administration for their own failed policies.

Obama is throwing so many things at the american people at once. Why??? To keep us distracted and confused, so that he/she(Nancy Pelosi) can get all they ever wanted passed and done before the next administration comes in. By that time it will be too late unless we form a Protest of unseen proportions in this country.

The White House lawn needs redoing, why not dump some of that swine fertilizer all over it to help the grass grow realllllllll green.

Joe Biden met with the UAW in Miami just the other day. Guess what? The press was not allowed in. Why, you ask? Because they are sneaky and underhanded. Just like CARDCHECK. What kind of democracy does not have a private voting system? There has been many claims of harrasment by union officials strong-arming people with threats losing beefits and jobs if they don't vote they're way. That is not democracy. That's the way people like Hugo Chavez wins a SO CALLED election. With this new Obama administration, we lose more rights everyday. Our auto industry and workers are in trouble BECAUSE of the UAW not inspite of it. The Obama administration is simply a giant funnel to provide our taxpayer money to repay the radical leftwing organizations that contributed to his campaign. The Teachers union has failed our children that attend public schools. The unions spend more members money on supporting left wing politicians than they do on member benefits. Let me add that union members do not have a say in where THEY'RE money ends up, or what politician it buys. And yes, that is why I am no longer a member of the IBEW. It is still AMERICA and we do have a choice.

I do not oppose card check and Unions. Ceo's, Bankers and Wall Street today are running wild with their pay raises, bonsus's and parachutes while the working class is taking the hit and paying for this excessive rip-off. Who are they to be able to take "Greed" to the ultimate level?

Another way to look at this issue is by evaluating an institution with no secret ballot. The U.S. Congress makes policy decisions by open voting. So what does this do to voting integrity? For starters, lobbyists strongly influence members of Congress and would lose power without open voting to confirm their "persuasion and support" had the desired effect.

Voting on the record is necessary in Congress so constituents can monitor elected representatives, but no one would argue this method does not contribute to much of the Congressional waste and corruption we see.

Recently the U.S. Senate provided an example when the "stimulus" package needed a few more votes. Opponents of the bill being public knowledge, proponents needed only to isolate weak senators and offer incentives for changed votes. Not surprisingly , just enough votes changed to pass the package, demonstrating a direct parallel of how union organizers could use the known position of employees to pressure any opposition. Not only would it be easier to focus attention on the most malleable voters, but could also be extremely divisive and create long standing animosities.

Anyone who believes the U.S. Congress and thousands of lobbyists who spend millions of dollars to influence them, represent an example of honesty, independent thought, integrity and good government, will like the Employee Freedom of Choice Act.

Had our government treated workers fairly whether Union or non-Union this country would not be in the shape it is now……….shambles! Free Trade Agreements that are NOT Fair Trade Agreements has finally caught up with American workers business. Keep the American worker, Union and non-Union on a level playing field with other countries and we can out produce any country.

Greed is what the American CEO, Banker and Wall Street managers have brought to the table in America and here is the proof. The working class is now turning the tables on these elite rip-off artists. It is now "the working mans turn" it would seem.http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/politics_pop/inde…

You people blaming greed on the CEO's and Bankers have no idea but what the Left is feeding you! Do you have any idea what officers in Unions make? The Secretary of my Union Local makes over $100k so you can imagine what the President makes along with perks! You people better get all of your facts straight before you come here vomiting your Leftist dribble!

"The Employee Freedom Of Choice Act." More blatant 'smiley faced fascism' from Barry and the rest of the neo-liberal socialists in DC. How many more of our Constitutional Freedoms and Rights will they seize before the fawning media wakes up? The only examples of 'greed' and 'rip-off' that have led to our current economic crisis have come from the cronies the neo-democrats in charge are fronting for. Where are the greedy 'experts' from Clinton's administration, Mudd and Raines, that ran Freddie Mack and Fannie Mae into the ground then left with their millions before the government took over?

How much longer will the idiot apologists blame G W Bush? How many more unconstitutional laws will be passed before these same lock-step liberals realize the great Republic that once was America has been replaced with another failing socialist state? Obama is a liar. Professional Politicians need to be voted out and term limits enacted to protect the people from a Congress that serves only special interests and continues to gobble up more and more of the private sector.

I am a Union member. It is not by choice. I have found that it is easier to "go along to get along." My Union dues have gone to support such Presidential candidates as John Kerry and Chris Dodd. If I had my way, I would pull my membership as soon as possible. But due to the unfair and threatening ways that I would encounter, it just isn't possible.

I never thought I would live long enough to agree with George Mcgovern on ANYTHING~but as my mother used to say "never say never". If this bill iis passed;I will lose whatever little faith I have left in the Congress.

It seems truely unbelievable that everyone can't see that the problem with big labor and their demands are what has bankrupted the big auto companies. How can anyone rationalize the idea that retired employees can receive full benifit packages on top of high retirement salaries and still have the company profitable. Why weren't these companies looking ahead and doing something about the future problems that they were willing to sign onto?

card check and tarp will close down my small business.i do not wish to pay more dues and taxes to a socialist government.these people emanuel reid pelosi rangle do nor live in the real world they have been on the dole to long.

Democratic Party…. A Pat on the Back in front of cameras a knife in the back when no ones looking! What They really want to do to our Son and Daughters who serve and have served in The Military!

What the American People Need to know about this two-faced administration!

I am a retired military veteran. Today I received a letter I thought would never be delivered to my door. I volunteered and severed my country for twenty four years. I enlisted in 1963 shortly after President Kennedy was murdered. I thought America might need men, as the killer of The President nor the reasons behind his assignation were not at that time clear. Although is was peace time when I swore to defend this country. Going to war was not a concern for me. In my mind it was inevitable war would come during my career. I was a twenty year man from the start following in my hero’s (my dad) footsteps.

It was a given on both sides the enlistee and the government. You spent twenty years or more, survive, retire and receive benefits as payment for longevity of service. I should have known what would be coming down the political road after Jimmy Carter and his boys did away with free concept and said we us contribute for own and families medical care. Yep the Vietnam war was over cuts had to be made. Retiree benefits needed to be changed. However the real double cross is having those on active duty share in the cost of using military doctors. For their families. The excuse “everyone pays for insurance” why should the military be any different. Everyone who works does not take the chance of being killed and or spend months away from families.

The divorce and suicide rate are far greater in the military than in civilian employment.

Those in the military now fighting for our great country, and those of us that lived up to our part of the bargain needs America to understand what’s about to happen if President Obama, the far-left democrats’ and those that do not care about the military gets their way volunteers will be hard to come by.

The Union needs this type of help from the government because they know that with a fair secret ballot they will lose about 80% of the time. Most workers realise that the only one that gets higher wages are the union trust funds. The average worker can put the same amount of money in savings as his retirement benefit each year and end up with a lot more money to retire with. The union used to represent the worker againest the employer, now you have the employer, the worker, and the money grabbing union trusts. The worker is fined and punished by the union. I have always thought the unions were good until they started bullying thier membership around and milking the employer until he has to close his business. GM, Chrysler, Ford, all the government construction jobs costing 30% more then non-union jobs in the same area, these are perfect examples of Union costs. The unions don't want to have to use E-Varify on the gov. jobs coming out under the stimulus plan. This would require them to hire US workers that know thier rights. They want to be able to hire illegal alien workers. Then telling them they have to be union and charging them $500 bucks a piece for thier new Uion cards. This plus the PLA's that Obama has put back onto the Government stimulus jobs will cost the Taxpaers Billions of dollars that will go into the Union Trust accounts.

Unions had their time and place, when sweat shops and forced labor were present. This time and place has long since gone. I do not see the need to pay someone for the right to work, and that is exactly what union dues are. The unions have driven up wages and benefits and caused many companies to fold, look at what happened to EASTER AIRLINES.The union was told that concessions must be made or everyone would be out of work. The union said no, well they were out of jobs.

GM is heading down this path, the union has forced the auto makers to pay ecessive wages, and benefits. The cost of a vehicle has gone to the extent that people can not buy them. The foreign makers filled the gap, where did our money then go. It is time to wake up folks, this deal that obama and the dems are pushing is all wrong and will cause many companies to go away. AGAIN THE WAY OF A SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT RULE BY OBAMA.

Gaining control of labor and the means production, etc, are key features of the Socialist Left agenda, with both "Big Labor" and their Leftist politicians and bureaucrats (including Obama and his gang in control of both Congress and his "administration") so determined to do so that they can hardly wait to have their misleadingly so-called "Employee Free Choice Act" be made law. Yet they deny that they are Socialists?

Question: What one thing does history show to this day that everything from certain "union organizers" and their bosses, to certain Socialist Politicians such as Stalin from his street criminal youth to his Communist/Socialist dying day, to a Socialist named Hitler and his henchmen, and others to this day, all have in common?

Answer: Such hostility and contempt of such as our free secret ballot voting, which we have (as of yet) in both the workplace and elsewhere, that they will do anything they can possibly get away with against it and the protection against intimidation and coersion it provides, including through the misleadingly so-called "Employee Free Choice Act".

Why? Actually because of the protection that free secret ballot voting provides against intimidation and/or coercion which certain "union organizers" and their Leftist politicians would evidently allow to be used in order to squelch any opposition.

Indeed, as far as certain "union organizers", etc, and their Leftist politicians are evidently concerned, they are evidently so determined to let nothing stand in their way, including free secret ballot voting in the workplace and any protection it provides against intimidation and coercion, that they evidently don't care how employers, employees, and thus also the economy will suffer if they get their way through their misleadingly so-called "Employee Free Choice Act, which removes any protection against intimidation and coercion provided through voting by secret ballot and causes a domino effect from there which is insidious at best.

This is so disheartening. I'm a former postal employee and of course our dues went to help elect people with liberal values, not mine. Look what's happening to the postal service now. Isn't there anything we can do about our new "czar"? Could we do a national petition to stop the enactment of this pending legislation?

I am starting up a small business. If and when I deceide to hire some employees and they would want to join a union I will shut my buisness down and go work for some other sucker who has a union shop. barack hussein obama is running our country into the ground and people are walking around with the heads up thier butts !! He is an empty suit and is putting us in harms way.

To those of you complaining about "greed" big bad CEO's, etc., please stay on the issue.

One issue, in my opinion, is whether a company has a right to run it's business as it sees fit, or must bow to a union setting the rules and demanding it's "rights" be paramount in any decision making that might affect the future of the company.

Also, if those of you posting here that agree with card check would start your own businesses, you might possibly understand what is at stake here. I doubt that you would like this ruling.

Workers'(or peoples') rights is a code word used frequently by Socialist/Marxist dictators to inflame the citizens and promote unrest for their own ends.

"Card Check and gov't imposed arbitration have nothing in common with the principles of free enterprise, individual freedoms, and personal responsibility that is part of the foundation of America.

If the Heritage Foundation is as lacking in it's knowledge and grasp of all things economic and political as they are about Union's, I worry that I might be getting a shallow and prejudiced view.

And Ozzy6900, you know even less and are not a very good Union person. Every institution has weaknesses, but try not to be so appeasing and weak as to throw the baby out with the bath water.

I suggest you all do a little more research as to how this economy got to where it now finds itself.

As Abraham Lincoln said on his first address to the Congress: (sic) "Labor trumps capital and without labor, capital would not exist. Therefore Labor is the superior to capital."

You big biz and corporate types took the massive profits we generated in America in the 1950's, 60's and 70's and invested it overseas. Now you are stuck with an economy that knows little or nothing about wealth generation, but only how to perform Engineered Financials on Wall Street.

Anyone with a brain knows that this only drives the currency printing presses and does nothing to stimulate real growth or sustainable wealth. Profit is a term in America that is no friend of the working class. Sustainable real wealth, on the other hand, benefits everyone, even the lazy on Wall Street. Real jobs make stuff!

My opinion the very thought of more UNIONS in this country could very well drive more manufacturers out of this country (not that we have many in the first place)!!!

unclimed change should be investigated error, because to be markup all consequencies like in my job will be investiged effect to trnsporatation system and researche all efect about this.please investigated first.

This is a money and power grab by Big Government; once they get their goons in their they grab most of the pie through behind the scenes contracts for procurement and fulfillment contracts. It becomes nepotism, and cronyism at its worst and eventually kills productivity and efficiency: Look at UNIONIZED Europe. These nations cannot pay for their benefits now, let alone their future obligations: ask GM and Chrysler what has happened to them. Unions are what they are and used properly can be mutually beneficial; Protection for the worker from unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, and a reasonable rate for their efforts; the employer, or creator of wealth, receives skilled and competent labor as a result of enhanced training programs.

LORD CAPTAIN OBAMA ON THE DECK OF THE SHIP OF STATE IN THE SEA OF LOST FREEDOM,PREPARING TO BOARD THE OFFICIAL LIFE BOAT AND COMMUNE WITH HIS HIGHER POWER ON THE ISLAND;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;LAUNCH ME AXELROD I MUST RAP WITH GOD;

AXELROD;captain obama with all due respect why would you go ashore too talk to yourself;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;YOU MISTAKE MY FAITH I BELEIVE THAT GOD IS ON AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH ME AND WORTHY OF ASKING MY OPINION,NOT THAT HE DOESNT EXIST;

AXELROD;i dont know what to think anymore SIR;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;I CAN SEE YOUR FAITH HAS BEEN SHAKEN SO FORGET THE BOAT AND I WILL WALK ACROSS THE WAVES TO THE ISLAND;

AXELROD;thank you sir,i didnt know how to tell you that the CHINESE blew holes in the life boats when they fired that 21 gun salute at us;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;THEY MUST TRUST ME TO DO THE RIGHT THING ,OF COURSE THEY KNOW I WOULDNT NEED A BOAT;

AXELROD;SIR,what about the rest of us who cant walk on water;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;DONT RISE ABOVE YOURSELF axelrod YOU ARE A SMALL PART IN THE GREATER GOOD SO HEED MY COMMANDS AND STOP GROVELING, YOU CAN GROVEL WHEN I SAY YOU CAN AND ONLY THEN,DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A CHOICE IN THIS PLACE WHERE WE WORK,THE ONLY CHOICE I WANT TO HERE ABOUT IS ABORTION;

AXELROD;forgive me SIR, i am worm SIR,a worm;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;TRUE ENOUGH NOW HAND ME MY BLACKBERRY THAT I MAY SPEAK WITH GOD IN THE SACRED GROVE ON THE ISLAND;

AXELROD;here is your divine portal my lord and i will see if the chinese will stop laughing long enough to pull us off the reef;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;BE THAT AS IT MAY,ONLY MY SERFS FEAR DROWNING NOT I AND I WILL RAISE MY FOLLOWERS TO NEW HIEGHTS IN THE PROTECTION RACKET AND HENCE FORTH WE WILL CALL IT VOLUNTARY UNIONIZATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,THINK OF SOMETHING WITH SHORTER WORDS axelrod,LONG WORDS FROM GODS VOICE RUNS THE BATTERIES DOWN;

AXELROD;yes my liege,my saint,my phropet;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;FAWN AWAY AXELROD BUT WE WILL BE HAVING NO PROFITS UNDER MY RULE;

AXELROD;forgive me lord i will confiscate the next profit i see and offer it to the union bosses in your name of course because i live to serve and am a worm SIR!!!!!!!!,a worm SIR!!!!!;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;WITH OUT QUESTION YOU ARE BUT I WILL RAISE YOU TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF WORMHOOD SO STOP SHRIEKING AND UNHAND MY BLACK BERRY I MUST BE OFF;

AXELROD;(groaning as he kneels thinking of the people they can reduce to lesser wormhood, making yummy sounds at the contemplation of it all as CAPTAIN OBAMA walks across water to the island;

(LOCATION) (CAPTAIN OBAMA CLEARS THE RAGING SURF AND CONTEMPLATES AS HE DOES THE HUMAN SERFS TO BE CREATED AND WALKED UPON WHEN HE RENDERS JUSTICE AT LAST WITH HIS CHURLS AND VASSALS IN THE UNIONS,HE ENTERS THE SACRED GROVE SEEKING THE ALTAR OF GOD,WHICH FOR HIM IS A MIRROR);

(LOCATION)CAPTAIN OBAMA, BEFORE THE ALTAR WHICH UNEXPECTEDLY TEAMS WITH FLIES, HIS BLACK BERRY FALLS SILENT BUT A VOICE IS HEARD THAT IS NEW TO HIM AND ASKS A QUESTION THAT HE HAS NO ANSWER FOR BECAUSE HIS BLKACK BERRY IS DOWN AND THERE IS NO TELEPROMPTER,(captain obama is on his own);

THE LORD OF THE FLIES;WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE OF ME?;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;i dont think i can answer that now unless you have some batteries;

THE LORD OF THE FLIES;COME TO ME AGAIN WHEN THE ISLAND IS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND YOUR UNION THUGS HOUND THE DISIDENTS THROUGH THE DARKNESS AND ALL WILL BE REVEALED WHEN THE CARNAGE BECOME GREAT ENOUGH TO CONSUME THE LAST FREE PEOPLE ON EARTH;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;i can do that,i think;

THE LORD OF THE FLIES;BE A GOOD LITTLE SOCIALIST AND DELIVER TO THE GOD OF YOUR CREATION SERFS IN CHAINS,I EXPECT NO LESS OF YOU AND YOUR CREATURES UNTIL YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU ARE;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;i dont know what you mean;

THE LORD OF THE FLIES;NO YOU DO NOT, AND THAT IS A TRAGEDY THAT YOU WILL INFLICT ON OTHERS BECAUSE YOU DO NOT SEE YOURSELF AS PART OF CREATION BUT THE CROWN OF IT,THOSE PARISITES YOU RAISE TO POWER WITH YOUR UNIONS AND LAWYERS WILL PICK UP THE TORCHES YOU HAND THEM WITH NO MORE REFLECTION THAN YOU YOUR SELF HAVE.NOW GO AND FOLLOW WHO YOU REALLY ARE AND SET YOUR SOCIALIST MINIONS TO BURN ANSWERABLE ONLY TO YOUR OWN IMPULSES AND BE THE BEASTS YOU WERE MADE TO BE AND NOTHING ELSE;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;are you sure you dont have any batteries;

(THE LORD OF THE FLIES FALLS SILENT)captain obama departs seeking not enlightenment but batteries and deprived of his ability; for the time being he is sure;to walk on water, waits on the beach for axelrod to patch holes in the lifeboat and carry him back to the ship of state, still hung up on the reef with no help in sight from the chinese who cant quit laughing;

CAPTAIN OBAMA;THAT WAS A WASTE OF TIME,TALKING TO GOD,FOR ALL THE GOOD IT DID I MAY AS WELL HAVE TALKED TO MY SELF;

Stop wasting time writing to the blogs. Start calling and writing your Congress Person and let them know that you will be voting them out of office. Start at the local level and get rid of the corrupt politicans. The only way to change the current trend is to vote them out. That will be real "hope and change".

I have never seen the like of so many hysterical respondents in an absolute tizzy over socialism and Marxism. In this case, it is far better to remain silent and let people wonder if you are a fool than it is to write/speak and erase all doubt.

The only thing you need to know about Unions is that after the Gilded Age of the robber barons of the early 20th century left the working class nearly destitute, Union men were murdered for trying to demand a living wage. The benefit to you sideliners who never risked a thing was a better average pay scale, pension funds for workers and health care benefits as well as enhanced safety rules. You'd have none of this today without the sacrifice of Union stalwarts like Walter Reuther and others.

Get a grip, read and learn and stop listening to Limbaugh and Oberman as if they had the Gospel on the economy, politics and Unions! They are highly unschooled in labor history, as is the HF, apparently.

Capitalism is a means to achieve financial gain. Do not confuse the US Constitutional form of Government with a supposed inalienable right to go broke at the hands of Capitalist scaliwags. They have proven they are not the least bit patriotic when it comes to earning profits. And it is not illegal or immoral to be liberal or conservative. Neither one holds a lock on Constitutional patriotism.

Other than that, some of you sound just pure racist in your comments. Especially those that insist on using "Hussein" every time you speak of our President and Commander in Chief!

God Bless My Union! I'm old enough to remember what life in America was without unions. Hell!

Nowadays, when companies are taking false bankrupsy to rid themselves of senior employees and hiring immigrants off the streets for nothing,

it should anger us all. At the same time, the government made it very difficult for families to seek protection and go through authentic bankrupsy; we should be angry. That's a feature of slavery.

Without my retirement benefits, I would be a real bag lady. I'm too old and worked too many years to live out on the cold streets with the younger ones. Only wish we would take down the budget of Medicare by firing Pharma and writing competing prices into the Medicare documents. It's costing us all way too much. You and me and the government budget.!!

Has anyone mentioned that the mediator/arbitrator is a government unionized employee? This legislation is disgraceful and flies in the face of all that is fair and just. I know that nothing is fair, but what the hell, maybe just once.

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